Please don't take my centerpieces

I am having my daughter a Quinceanera (15th birthday celebration) and for the centerpieces I will be having a large Lantern with a candle in it on the middle of the table surrounded by milk glass compotes and vases with flowers in them. I have spent over a year collecting vintage milk glass pieces.

In my circle of friends and family being Hispanic, many guests might be accustomed to taking the centerpieces. Although this is an old custom and now a days people rent their centerpieces, I am afraid people will take my milk glass thinking it’s ok.

I didn’t think people still did this until I attended a wedding a month ago and by the end of the night every single centerpiece was pushed to the side near someone’s belongings.

I don’t care too much about them taking the lanterns although they were very expensive and people shouldn’t assume they can take them. My only concern is that people will try to take my milk glass compotes, goblets and vases. I have spent over a year and lots of money collecting these pieces and have even bought a hutch to display these vintage milk glass pieces. I don’t care if they take the fresh flowers in them just not my vintage milk glass!!

So my question is… how do I stop guests from taking my centerpieces? Should I attach a note with a ribbon saying something like please don’t take me? Or perhaps something like these are from the personal collection of Alyssa’s mom?

thequeenbee : If it’s customary in your circle that people take the centerpieces, people are going to try to take the centerpieces. In my area, it is very common that centerpieces are up for grabs. If you have decided to go against the norm, you will need to have an announcement made and hope that people hear it. Someone will inevitably not hear, and will happily say their goodbyes with a centerpiece in hand — you should be prepared to have that awkward conversation or let it go.

When this is a cultural expectation it is best to expect that it will happen–if these items are precious to you use something else.

FWIW I attended a friend’s birthday party at a golf club recently and the hostess was concerned that the guests would take the florist’s vases with the arrangements and there was no reasonable expectation that this would happen. Yet sometimes it does.

Thank you all for your ideas and input! I think it is correct to assume that my guests will help themselves to my milk glass. So, what about buying mason jars and after dinner when the dj and band start, switching out the milk glass vases and putting the flowers in mason jars that they can take? Is that tacky??

weddingmaven : it really is a cultural thing. I’m buying our centerpieces fully expecting most or all to be taken. My family have done this for every party theyve thrown since I can remember. Advising her to pick better friends is a little harsh.

I would have someone make an announcement that the centrepiece items were borrowed from a close family friend. People are more likely to pay attention if they think someone else will be hurt by their actions.

I wouldn’t switch them out for mason jars immediately after dinner, but shortly thereafter that.

Also make sure you ask close family to keep an eye on the tables for you.

thequeenbee : OK I come from a background where centrepieces are given as a gift to someone at the table too. Our solution at the wedding was to get the Master of ceremonies to tell people to take the flowers but not the vase as they belong to the venue. Just do something similar.

We also assigned centerpieces to people sitting at each table. We put a star sticker on their table name tag. If you got a star sticker, the centrepiece at your table was yours to take. This lessened the chance of people walking off with the vases too.

Thank you all for taking time to give your advice! I am using these specific pieces because they are so gorgeous and compliment our vintage, blush, rose gold theme. But mostly because I buy vintage furniture and my daughter and I work together to restore and resell it. We also shop flea markets and estate sales together to collect the milk glass. We also have collected tons of mixmatched China for this event. I thought that these pieces and the vintage buffets, tea carts, and vanity we are using will all come together to get the vintage look we want.

I have collected several assorted vintage crystal goblets and cups that we made into candles and attached a ribbon and tag to as favors that will be on each table setting for guests to take. I will still be using the milk glass pieces but thanks to all your comments and feedback, I will expect that guests will take them as well. I will just think of it as sending my guests home with more memories from my daughter’s special day.

I help a wedding florist friend to set up and tear down sometimes. The vases are hers and she always takes the flowers out of the vases and puts the flowers on one table by the door. She also tells people they can take them when they walk by and see them. She packs up the vases before the event officially ends, so they are safe and sound. People just take the bundle of flowers. That’s an option.